InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Dark Heaven ❯ Lord and Master ( Chapter 15 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
Dark Heaven
Chapter 15
Lord and Master
“There must be some record of it,” Sesshomaru snarled, slamming the book he was reading shut. The son of the Inu-no-Taisho was seated in the library of Horai Castle, and had been reading for many hours. So far his search was not successful.
“My Lord,” Sesshomaru looked up as his secretary placed a tray of tea and bread on the table. “I thought you might like something to eat,” She said, bowing.
“Thank you Kagura, but I am not hungry at the moment,” He said, waving her away and standing with his book. Kagura watched as he shoved the book back on the shelf and pulled out a new one, leafing through it.
“Is something wrong my Lord?” She asked. Sesshomaru furrowed his brow.
“In all the history books, before and after the Great War, there is no record of what the Sealed One is,” He muttered. “I don't understand how that can be, surely there must be some mention of it somewhere.”
“The rumors say that all records of the Great War are kept under lock and key,” Kagura suggested. “Perhaps the same goes for the Sealed One.”
“There must be something,” Sesshomaru insisted. “There must be, it's impossible that there's no information at all. With the human underground seemingly pursuing it I must know what it is. How will we be able to defend ourselves if we do not know what to expect?”
“I don't know,” Kagura answered honestly. “But I do not think the answers you seek lie in this room. I have seen Lord Raijin and Lord Toga in here previously, also looking for information, and they failed as you seem to be doing.” Sesshomaru grunted his acknowledgement and put his book back.
“Then there is but one more place I can search,” He said. He turned and walked past Kagura. “Kagura, prepare my bags and some for yourself. We will depart for Haven tonight.” Kagura nodded, her expression clouding as Sesshomaru left the library.
- - - - - - - - - -
“It's just more of the same,” Kikyo sighed, setting down her newspaper and leaning back, rubbing her temples and yawning. The Councilor had been up all night, scanning the recent newspapers. Angel was not the only odd creature being sighted in the night now, a silver-haired beast was seen following her. The papers had dubbed him Silver, given his hair. They, and Kikyo as well, were still deciding if he was friend or foe to them and Angel.
Kikyo sat up as she heard rapid footsteps outside her door, and got up, opening the door to see security guards rush past.
“What's going on?” She shouted.
“The Head of the Council has been attacked,” Someone replied. Kikyo gasped and joined the rush down the Tower corridors. She ducked down a side-stairwell up and ran up them. At some point Naraku stepped in the passage and followed her.
“You heard?” Kikyo called. Naraku nodded, his face blank. The two Councilors burst out of the door on the level of Midoriko's quarters, and ran the remaining distance to her room. Paramedics, security guards and various other members of the Council were already there. Kikyo and Naraku pushed their way through the crowd.
“Get me some disinfectant fast. This is gonna need stitches,” One of the paramedics said. Kikyo stared at the sight of Midoriko lying on the floor, a bloody gash across her forehead and three matching slashes on her right shoulder. “Get a stretcher, we've gotta get her to the hospital,” The paramedic said.
“What the hell happened?” Naraku snapped.
“It looks like a youkai attack, various slashes, three to the arm, one to the head, possible concussion, head trauma. She may have a few bruised rips, it looks like she was thrown around a bit,” The paramedic explained. Two more emerged from the crowd with a stretcher and slid it under Midoriko, lifting the Councilor and slowly carrying her out the room.
“This is an atrocity,” One of the Councilors muttered. Kikyo noticed Bankotsu in the crowd, and even he looked concerned and worried. Even those under suspicion for treason had no idea what had happened. Kikyo pushed past him and helped the paramedics carry Midoriko to the elevators. As she left, Naraku followed her and entered the stairwell.
- - - - - - - - - -
“Kagemusha!”” Naraku roared, throwing open the doors to his office. Kagemusha looked up from the laptop of Naraku's desk, a bored expression on his face. “What the hell were you thinking?” Naraku demanded, grabbing the laptop and flinging it across the room.
“I just got that,” Kagemusha growled. “What are you talking about?”
“Midoriko, don't act fucking stupid!” Naraku snapped. “Why did you attack Midoriko?” Kagemusha smirked.
“There's been a change of plans. He's tired of waiting.”
“I told him and you, I'll deal with Midoriko my way,” Naraku seethed. Kagemusha shrugged innocently.
“Your way is too slow. He wants the Sealed One and he wants him now. Don't dare question our methods Naraku. We youkai have been dominating this world long before humans. We know what we're doing.”
“You could have killed her, she may very well die anyway. Her death was not part of the deal,” Naraku insisted. “I told you before, I'll find the location of the Sealed One and get rid of Midoriko as I see fit.”
“You you you, it's all about you,” Kagemusha yawned. “We don't need you Naraku, you're just a luxury for us. We already have another Councilor among our ranks, and if we need to cut you out of our plans than I'm perfectly willing to do so. Consider that before you shoot that fucking big mouth of yours off.” Kagemusha glared at Naraku and conjured a ball of flame as threat. Naraku glared back and backed down after a moment.
“Fine,” He growled.
“Good,” Kagemusha replied, snuffing out his flame. “Now, your orders are the same, to secure its location from her and deliver it to us. I merely helped the cause along, with her possibly at death's door she will be more ready than ever to pass its legacy to the next Councilor.” Naraku nodded and clasped his chin in a hand, tapping his cheek in thought.
“Alright. We're in agreement then, the same deal as before. I'll deliver you the Sealed One, and you leave Haven to me,” He said after a moment. Kagemusha held back a laugh and smiled.
“Of course,” He replied.
- - - - - - - - - -
Kagura slipped inside the iron door, the spring mechanisms locking it behind her. The kaze-youkai was in a warehouse in the ports of Horai. She and Sesshomaru weren't due to leave for the human city for many hours. Just enough time to report. The inside of the warehouse was an illegal nightclub, known only by word of mouth. Various wards from the club's owners kept a protective barrier around the warehouse to keep out the authorities.
“Kagura,” Kagura nodded at the owner of the club's manager, who appeared beside her from the dark crowd. He was a handsome ryu-youkai, tall with long black hair.
“Ryo, long time,” She smiled. “How's business?” Ryo Kotsei shrugged and led Kagura through the club.
“Attendance is down, a lot of our customers are getting busted and moving down to Haven,” Ryo sighed. “The trafficking is going fine though. Did you just come here to talk, or what?”
“I came to report to him,” Kagura explained. Ryo nodded and pushed open the door behind the bar, leading to his office. A large door lay behind his desk. Ryo punched in a keycode on the ID reader above the handle, and it clicked open. Kagura walked through, Ryo remaining behind and closing it behind her.
The door opened up to a series of long, winding steps down under the warehouse. Kagura followed them down to another large space, the warehouse basement, inaccessible to the patrons above, who didn't even know it existed. Various youkai, a great majority of them wanted criminals, worked about the site. Most of them were either forging some sort of weapon, or otherwise enchanting said weapons with their youki. The base was a warzone.
“We have been waiting for you.” Kagura stopped and looked over her shoulder as a small girl approached her, appearing from the shadows. She wore a simple, pure white robe and had long white hair.
“Kanna,” Kagura muttered, eyeing her warily. She had been to this place many times before, but Kanna always unnerved her. The child's sheer…unearthiness, made her uneasy. Kanna slowly walked past Kagura and led her deeper into the base. Kagura followed, glancing at the youkai workers she passed. One last door loomed ahead, and it swung open as Kanna approached. She stopped and let Kagura pass into the room beyond.
Considering the location it was very well furnished, as great as a room in the Castle of Taisho. A large oak desk rested against a fall wall, and a bed along the other. Kagura kneeled and bowed her head as the youkai at the desk finished what he was doing. She looked up slightly as he stood up, turning and walking to a bookcase, a thin, aged paper scroll in his hands. The youkai was many decades old but was still relatively young, and looked no older than ten years old. He had long white hair and bright purple eyes. After all their meetings, despite his appearance Kagura had seen first hand he was not to be underestimated.
“Kagura. You have come,” He said quietly, rolling up the scroll and placing it on the bookshelf. Kagura nodded.
“Yes, Master Hakudoshi,” She replied. “I have news.” Hakudoshi nodded and pulled a journal from the books, taking it to his desk and opening it.
“And?” He prodded, lifting a pen to the paper and writing.
“Lord Sesshomaru is leaving for Haven tonight. He seeks information of the Sealed One,” Kagura explained.
“And to think I thought you may have had some valuable information for me,” Hakudoshi sighed, tapping his pen and frowning when the ink flow stopped. “Let him search Kagura, let him find what he can, it is nothing I don't already know, the libraries of the cities mean nothing to me. If Sesshomaru wishes to research then let him, he will find nothing useful.” Kagura nodded.
“Perhaps, but you know what the son of the Inu no Taisho is like. He will not need a reason to take action,” She explained.
“And what actions shall he take? We already have informants and operatives in every place that counts. Let the youkai prince take action, he will die in his bed,” Hakudoshi snorted. “You need to have more faith Kagura.”
“There is but one more matter,” Kagura started. “If Sesshomaru is in Haven, won't he discover the youkai Ambassador that is hunting Angel, or even worse, what if he finds Kagemusha there.”
“Why do you value their lives so?” Hakudoshi muttered, rolling his eyes. “If they were here I would kill them now without a single regret. The Hunter is meaningless to me, as is Angel. Kagemusha's purpose now is to die when I will it. I have all I need now Kagura, and so I feel no remorse if I must…trim the fat from our ranks. I know how to use it, what it is, and soon I shall know where it is. I have all that I need, it has taken me my entire life but I have it,” Hakudoshi turned to look at his bookcase and smiled.
“Within a few months, Kagura, the power of the Sealed One will be mine. And when I rise, the humans shall fall. The youkai who survive will either stand at my side or stand in my way, and neither makes a difference to me.” He looked at Kagura with a smirk. “Seeing as how your espionage services are growing less and less useful, you are hereby discharged. Once you leave this basement you will not be allowed back, although it is up to Ryo's discretion if you attend the club. My advice now is to decide who you want to live, It's better to stow away on the ark now, than scramble to it when the rain falls.” Hakudoshi turned back to his desk, an obvious dismissal. Kagura gave him a sour look and rose, turning and walking of the youkai's room.